Telephone system



April 6 1926. l,579,73l

. H. w. o'NElLL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed May 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /nven/,on' Henry WO/Ve/Y/ '"Apfil 6, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1923 Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITEDv sTATs PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. WNEILL, BROOKLYN', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCGRPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK. w

TELEPHON E SYSTEM.

Application filed May 1, 1923- Serial No. 635,829.

To aZZ 'tv/tom 'it may Gomera: I

Be it known that I, HENRY VV. OlNnILL, a citizen of the United States of America, residingat Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly` to Circuit-s employed in handling toll co'nnections with telephonestations of the so-called coin box pay station types.

Heretofore, in thehandling of actual coin ,of toll or long distance service from stations of the so-called prepayment coin box type, it has been necessary to have the attention of two' or more operators. ,In situations where -it may be desired that the i charges for a toll connection becollected at a called station rather than at a station at Vwhich the Vcall may have originated, it has usually been necessary for a toll operator at the originating point to call and repeat the particulars of the call to a toll operator at the inward or terminating point, the latter operator then proceeds to handle the call in substantially the same manner in which a call originating at the called station Would have been handled. This renders it possible for the toll operator to' obtain the assistance of a trunk or toll switching operator, also the assistance of a tandem operator 35.011 built uptrunk connecti'ons, relative to the disposal of coins, such as their return to a patron on incompleted calls, or the collection of the coins Within the coinbox on calls which may be successfully completed. It is, therefore, broadly, an object of this invention to provide a system Wherein a single toll operator may have complete control of collect and refund Operations in such a manner as to improve andexpedite service in connection With coin box stations.

This object is attained in accordanee With the preferred form of this invention by the provision of a pluraiity of selectively responsive relays at the inward end of a toll switching trunk arranged to be Controlled by a toll operator to selectively effect response of coin collect and refund mechanism `ata distant sub-statlon.

f transactions in connection With certain kinds -A feature, of the invention resides in the control of collect and refund Operations by a toll operator on a connection built up over one or more toll lines and finallyy over a toll switching trunk to a called coin box statron at which it may be desired that the charges for a'calljbe collected rather than collection being made at the station of the operator may control coin collect or refund Operations. V

Still another feature provides means whereby a toll operator niay signal and speak t'o a tell switching operator'for the purpose of instructing `the toll switching operator to carry out a coilect or refund operation, etc. i i

A disclosure of the subject matter of this invention has also been made in a copending` application which .gis a division of the .present application. This copending application of H. VV. OlNeill, SerialNo. 741,320, filed October 3, 1,924, relates to a supervisory signaling arrangement lfor improvmg and expediting` the service in establishing, maintaining, and disestabiishing` of toll connections in the so-called coin box pay station type of'systeins covered by the present application.

The above and Vention. may be readily understood from the following detailed description taken With the accompanying drawings. l

Referring to' the accompanyingdrawings, Fig. lshowsequipment at Cfor the inward endof a t'runk circuit L1 vand equipment at a coin box subscriberls station A, While in Fig. 2 a toll operatoifs eord circuit is shown at E and aninWard or through toll operatoifs cord Circuit, is shown at D other features of the in-v It Will be assumed that a connection from the outward. toll operatoifis position at E is to be built up over a toll line L2 by Way of the cord Circuit at the inward toll position D, and the trunk Circuit 11-1 to the line Circuit of the station A. i

' Assuming further that on the present call the C'harges are to be reverscd orcollected at the called station A, the originating operator at E insertshplugzr20l into jack 202 of the tell line L2 and by Operating a signaling key- 230, a signal (not shown) will be displayed at the (listant point D. n response to this signal, the operator at D inserts plug 101 into jack 102 of the line L2 and by the operation of a talking key, (not shown) may communicate With the operator at 1*] and receive request for a connection with the subscriber at station fi. Theinward operator at D then employs an order Wire, (not shown) to'relay the request to a tell switching operator at O Who has access to the line A. The toll switching operator may assign the trunk L1 for use in establishing the Connection and thereupon insert plug 3 intorjack 11 of the called line, While the operator at D inserts plug 105 into jack 106 of the assigned toll switching trunk.

The insertion of plug 105 into jack 106, establishes a Circuit for a relay 50 which may be traced from ground battery, resistance element and left hand Winding of relay 50, normal right hand make-beforebreak contacts of relay 75, upper right hand winding of repeating coil 85, tip contacts of jack 106 and plug 105, upper left hand Winding of repeating coil 110, windings of relay 120, lower left hand Winding of repeating coil, 110, ring contactscof plug 105 and jack'lOG, lower right hand winding of repeating` coil S5, normal left hand makebefore-break Contacts of relay 7 and then-ce to ground through a resistance element and the right hand winding of relay 50.

llelay 50 in its operated position applies grounded battery through its right hand contact, to conductor 9 from which three branch paths extend, the first may be traced through the Winding of a relay 25 and the normally closed contacts of the Circuit controlling'element associated With relay 10 to ground; the second path extends through the Winding of a relay 20 and thence to ground through the normal Contacts of the Circuit controlling element of relay 5, while the third path extends through the winding of a relay and thence to ground through the normalcontacts of the circuit controlling element associated With relay 1. r1`he relays 15, and respond and Continue actuated since the contacts of the relays V1, 5 and 10 are normally closed -and may separate only during periods When alternating currents of proper respective frequencies may be applied to their windings, as presently Will appear.

ssuming-that the call signal at the station A has been operated in a manner presently to be described, and response received, the acceptance of the Collect Call by the subscriber is obtained by the operator at E, Who further requires the deposit of the necessary amount in coins in the Coin box.

As each Coin is inserted in the slot of the coin box va characteristic tone is manifested to the operator at E Who may therebv verify deposit of the proper amount buy the subscriber. Such tone signals are well understood by those skilled inV the artl and anyfurthe-r description here will not be necessary. The operator at E may now procced to collect the coins by the actuation of collect key 205 of the cord circuit at her position, thereby applying alternating curren-ts of 700 and 1500 cycles per second from the sources 207 and 208 respectively. through the Windings of the acceleration type alternating current relays 1 and 10. rFhis Circuit may be traced from the sources 207 and 208, alternate upper and lower contacts of key 205, upper and lower norinal Contacts of key 280, tip and ring contacts of plug 201 and jack 202, line conductors of the line 112, tip and ring contacts of jack 102 and plug 101, right hand Winding` of repeating coil 110 from whence currents of like frequencies are induced in the left hand winding of this repeating coil and flow out over the tip and ring contacts of plug 105 and jack 106, line conductors of line L1 and thenc-e through the windings of relays 1, 5 and 10 which are bridged across the line Conductors of the line L1. Relays 1, 5 and 10' are respectively responsive to currents of 700, 1100 and 1500 cycle frequencies so that in the Circuit just traced, relays 1 and 10 alone operate, while relay 5 continues in its normal condition. Relays 1 and 10 in operating, effect the release of relays 15 zuid 25 respectively "hereupon a Circuit may be traced from ground battery, right hand armature and front contact of relay 50, conductor 9, Winding of a relay 18, armature and back Contact of relay 15, middle armature and front contact of relay 20, middle armature and back contact of relay 25, conductor 19 thence to ground through the Winding of a relay 30. Relay operates and opens the tip and ring conductors of the trunk Circuit L1, and connects relatiyely high potential direct current of positive polarity from a source 54: by Way of the right hand armature and back contact of relay 55, winding of relay (50, front contact and upper armature of relay 8, tip contac'ts of plug and jack 41 thence to ground through the Windings of magnet 6 and coin contacts 7 in the Coin box at the station A.

- coin box mechanism has taken place and that The magnet Gl operates in this circuit and causes the coins to be deposited in the col-` and connects the d00 cycle current source 63 across the talking conductors of the terminating` equipment of line L1, from Whence this current may pass through the repeating coil tip and ring contacts of jack and plug 105, repeating coil 110, tip and ring contacts of plug 101 and jack 102, line conductors of line lL2, tip and ring contacts of jack 202 and plug 201, normal upper and lower contacts of key 230, 100 cycle filter 210, normal upper and lower contacts of key 220 and thence by Way of a listening' key 215, and leads indicated OT extending to the operator7s telephone set, not shown. This e00 cycle current produces a tone signal in the operators telephone set indicating to her' that the proper 'functioning of the the actuation of relay 00 Will hereinafter be pointed out.

Should the operator at E desire to refund rather than collect the coins deposited at the station A, the key 220 on the cord circuit at E may be operated, thereby applying currents of 1100 and 1500 cycles per second from the sources 217 and 218 respectively, to the Windings of the distant relays 5 and 10. This circuit may be traced from sources 217 and 218, alternate upper and lower contacts of key 220, upper and lower normal contacts of keys 205 and 230, thence over the main conductors of the connection as already traced, to complete the circuit through the windings of relays 1, 5 and 10. Relays 5 and 10 are respectively responsive to currents of 1100 and 1500 cycle frequencies and operate in the circuit just traced to effect the release of relays 20 and 25 respectively. A circuit may nowbe traced from grounded battery, front contact and right hand armai ture of relay 50, conductor 9, Winding of relay 18,'ar1natnre and front contact of relay 15, outermost left hand armatures and back contacts of relays 20 and 25, conductor 29 to ,around through the winding of a relay 35. Relay now operates and opens the talkino; conductors of the connection and establishes a circuit from a negatively poled and grounded battery 56, left hand armature and back contact of relay 55, winding of relay G5, front contact and upper armature of relay 1035, back contact and upper armature of relay 30, tip members of plug 3 and jack 4 and the Windings of magnet 6 to ground through coin contacts '7. Under the negative polarity of battery 5G magnet 6 attracts its armature in a direction opposite to vthat described heretofore in connection Withthe application of positire current from the source 511 and the coins are thereupon `deflected into the refund Vreceptacle of thevcoin bo); lat the station A.-

Relay 65 operates in the circuit j ust traced and effects the transmission of 2000 cycle frequency current from source 67 over the path already traced in connection' with the transmission of the 400 cycle current from the source 63 eXCept that a 2000 cycle filter 225 will be rendered 'effective `in this circuit due to the actuated position of the key 220, While the 400 cycle filter 210 will stand disabled due to theV key 205 being' in its normal position. The 2000 cycle current sets up a distinctive tone signalin the'operator7s telephone set at E to indicate that the ooins have been properly disposed of at the coin box at station A. Lamp S2 is actuateddue to the operation of relay 65, Vthev object of this will. be described hereinafter.

It Will be apparent from the foregoinp' that a cord circuit similarV to the cord at E may be joined directly to the trunk L1 as in connecting a calling subscriber7s station directly from an `outward operatoris position, and that the same procedure Vand opera tions may effect the collectingor refunding' of coins at theistation A. while the reception of signals by the toll operator may be had in a manner similar tothat just described.

The present system provides for the control of the ringing of a subscribefis station by a toll operator irrespectiye `of Wnethei a connection may include a toll line, an in- Ward cord circuit and a toll switching trunk or whether the connection may be formed directly from a. toll position by way of a tool switching trunk only.

In carrying,` out a ringing operation under the present assumed connection by Way of the toll line L2, the operator at E may actu ate theringing key 230 thereby applying` currents of 700 and 1100 cycles from sources 233 and 234,' respectively, to the main conductors of the connection. These currents may traverse a path extending` from the sources .233 and 234, normal contactsv of keys 27 5 and 280, upperl and lower alternato contacts Vof key 230, tip and ring contacts of plug 201 and jack`202, line conductors of line L2, tip and ring contacts of jack 102, and plug` 101, through the repeating coil 110, tip and ring contacts of plug; 105 and jack 106 and thence through the Windings of relays 1, 5 and 10. Relays 1jand 5 respond to the incoming frequencies and effect the release of relays 15 and 20 Whereupon a'circuit may be traced from groundedbattery, front contact' and right hand armature of relay 50, conductor 9, Winding' of relay 18, armature and back 'contact of relay 15, innermost armature and back contact of relay 20, innermost armature and front contact ofl relay 25, conductor 39, to ground througlr kej'v Contacts 115.

the winding of relay eO. Relay v operates and disconnects the main Conduetors of the connection in establishing a Circuit which may be trace-d from a source of grounded ringing current 31, front Contact and lower armature of relay 40, lower arniatures and back contacts of relays 80 and 35, ring` niembers of plug` 3 and jacl' signaling apparatus at station A, tip members of jack d and plug` 3, upper armatures and front contacts of relays 80 and 35, upper armatures and front contacts of relays and Z10 (operated as already described) to ground.

`luring described the manner in which a toll operator at E may Control the coin collcct and refund mecha'nism at the substation A and also the manner in which the subscriber at substation may be signaled by the toll operator at E, attention Will now bedirected to the manner in which supervision is obtained in the present system.

The insertion of plug; 201 into jack 202 as hereinbefore described, established a circuit which may be traced from grounded batterj,v through the Circuit controlling elements associated with relays 250 and the contacts of key 253, arn'iature and upper contact of relay 200, the lower winding of relay 200, Conductor 202, and thence to ouncl over the slecre members of plug,` 201 l lt will be not-ed that under i jack his Circuit condition, relay 205 is shunted a' the battery current just traced through i the Circuit controlling le nents of relays 250 an l 255 and the relay 205 therefore con- `nues mert at this time. A relay 270 may L) operate howei'cr in a Circuit extending from `grounded battery, armature and back Contactof relay 205, iii'inding of relay 270, upper winding' of relay 200, Conduetor 262, to =ound orer the sleei'e members of plug 201 1d jack 202.

The insertion of plug` 101 into jack 102 at and the actuation of a talking key (not shown) but which may be assumed as also controlling side contacts 115 thereby effects completion of a Circuit which may be traced from groundod battery, circuit controllimy elements associated with relays 135 and leo, winding of relay 150, key Contacts 115, sleeife members of plug 101 and ack 102 toground. Relay 150 operates and looks up in the same circuit as elfected its initial energization ex- Cept that the right hand armaturc and front Contact of this relay are substituted for the The energization of relay 150 prerents the ilhunination of lamp 109 at this time.

nse 1tion of plug 105 into jack 106 completcs an energizing` Circuit for relay as heretofore described and assuming that alug has been inserted in the jack 106 at D, in advance of the insertion of plug 3 into j ack L1 at C, the resulting operated condition of the relay 50 andthe inert condition of the relay 45, permit grounded battery to flow through a lamp sie'nal 7, lower armature and back Contact of ielay 45, left hand winding of relay 75 to ground through the front contact and left hand armature of relay 50. rhe illumination of lamp 7 in this instance serYc-.s as a guard signal to inform the operator at O tl at the trunk L1 has been taken for use at its outer end. i

Relay 75 operates in the Circuit just traced and in Operating, reverses the polarity of the battery cur 1ent supplied through the windings of relay 50 with respect to the main conductors of the line L1. 'l` his polarity will now be such that the polar relay will Continue in the position shownV in the drawing, to maintain the lamp 10? disconnected. rllhis serves as a negative form of guard signal to the operator at D indicatiug that the connection has not been completed at the point C, in other words, that the line of the called subscriber has lnot yet been connected. 'When the called subscriberls line is taken by the insertion ofplug 3 into jack et, the circuit for relay 75 is opened at the lower contacts of relay 15 and relay T5 releases to restore the original polarity in the loop forined of line L1 thereby effectiug operation of relay 120 to encrgize the lamp 107 over an' obvious Circuit.

At the instant relaj: 120 responded, the application of grounded battery associated with the armature of relay 120 effects the charging of a Condenser 121 in series with the winding` of relay Momentary response of the relay 125 due to the charging of the Condenser disconnects alternating current relays 135 and 1115 and applies alternatingr currents at 000 and 1700 cycles per second from sources and 131, respectively, to the main coi'iductors of the Cord Circuit at D where'upon correspondingly tuned relays 250 and 255 are actuated over a Circuit edielicling Afrom the sources 133 and 1841-, alternate contacts and armatures of relay 125, tip and ring' members of plug' 101 and jack 102, line conductors of line L2, tip and ring contacts of Vjack 202 and plug 201, upper and 'lower normal contacts of keys 230, and 220 thence through win-;lings of relays 250 and rllhese relays are actuated and momentarily disconnect battery from the lower winding of relay 260 so that the current present through the upper Winding of relay 260 causes the armature of this relay to Contact With the lower alternate contact. On Cessation of the impulse of alternating` currents the relays 250 and 255 restore and battery is again connected to the armature of relay 260 now contacting with its lower contact so that relay 270 will be shunted thereby releasing its arniature to'complete a Circuit for relay extending` from grounded battery, armature and back contact of relay 270, Winding of relay 205, lower wi-nding of relay 260, conductor 262 to ground over sleeve contacts of plug 201 and jack 202. Relay 265, in Operating, establishes an obvious Circuit fol.` lamp 227.l The y`illumination of lamp 227 indicates to the Aoperator at E that the connection has been extended to the line of the called party and she may proceed to ring the called party by Operating key 230,

vthe effect of which has heretofore been described. .i

Then the subscriber at-'A responds to the signal and removes the receiver from the switchhook, a circuit for relay is establishedrfrom grounded battery, winding of relay 80, resistance element and lower left hand winding of repeating coil 85, back contaet and lower armature of relay 10, lower armatures and back contacts vof relays 30 and 35, ring members of plug 3 and jack 4, line loop and apparatus at station A, tip members of jack l and plug 3, upper armatures and back contacts of relays 30 and 35, upper armature and front contact of relay :15, upperV armature and back contact of relay dO to ground through the 'upper left hand winding of repeating `coil and the resistance element associated therewith. The operation of relay 80' causes the actuation of relay 75 in a circuit cxtending from grounded battery, right hand winding of relay 75, front contact and armature of relay 80', lcfthand winding ofv relay 7 5, to ground over the front contact and left hand armature of relay v50. The actuation of relay 75 rererses the current polarit-y in the loop of the trunk L1 causing the release of relay to deenergize the lamplO'. At the instant the contacts of relay 120 separated, thevdischarge of the condenser 121 through lamp 1.07 and relay 125 causes a momentary response of relay 125'to effect a corrcsponding application of .the 900 and 1700 cycle currents from the sources 133 and 134 to cause a momentary response of relays 250 and 255 at E in a manner hereinbefore deseribed. The resulting disconncction of current from'the armature and upper winding of relay 260 permits the current now flowing in the lower winding of this relay to move the armature to its upper contact whereupon current from the'battery associated with the circuit controlling elements `of relays 250 and 255 on restoral of these relays, will shunt and effect releaseof the relay 265, whereupon the energizing circuit for lamp 227 is interruptedand battery will be reconnected through the winding` of.

relay 270 by way of the upper winding of the relay 260. w

n the present assumed talking condition of the connection, the signal lamps 7, 107, 109

and 227 at their respectivev points are ex- I tinguished. ,The signal lamp 237 Will also be extinguished due to the polarity of current in a toll switching trunk, not shown,

but which would ordinarily be present at the right hand side and joined to that end (not shown) of the cord `Circuit at E. A polar relay 285 serves to control the lamp 237 on such a connection.

Should the party at station A fiash the Continue lighted while in the latter the lamps `will stand extinguished.`

From the foregoingitwill bc obviousy that- Vdisconncction atthe station A will result in the illumination of lamps 107 and 227.

This will serye as a vdi'sconnect signal at the point- E but not necessarily soat the point .D where under traffic procedure for any situation where it may be desired, an operator' at such a point may disconnect only on re-` ceipt of a signal from the operator at Elas may be displayed on the lamp 109. The operator at D may adhere to the'indi'cations of signal lamp 109 at, all times except in cases where flashing of the signal 107 or the steady display of this signal may Continue :beyond a reasonable `length of time, and

render it advisable for this operator to cut in on the connection Vand disconnect or take such Steps as appear necessary in case the vcall for any reason is'not being properly supervised by `,the operator at E. `This in effect, constitutes a check by means of a tandem arrangement relativel to a plurality of operators on one and'the same connection and insures more immediate release of important toll line circuits so that they may not be unnecessarily held.` p y In case the operator at E may desire the attention of the operatoratD on a' connection, the actuation of a master key 275 followed by successive Operations of the ringing key 230 in a manner to correspond Awith flashing effects or intermittent applications of alternating currents of 1500 and 1300 'cycles from the sources 235 Vand 236 to the line L2 to effect corresponding responsesof the alternating current relays 135 and at D. As already described, Vthe relay .may be assumed to be in its operated position. Therefore the first response of relays 135 and 145 will diseonnect battery to permt i the restoration of relay 150 to separate its lower or looking contacts while the lamp 109 may be illuminated over` an obvious circuit from the grcunded .sleeve strand of the cord through the left hand -normal contacts of relay 150 andithe contacts of relays 135 and 145 togrounded battery. Following the first response of relays 135 and 145, each su'bseqnent energization thereof due to `fiashing of the distant key 230 disconnects the battery to 'e'xting'uish the lainp 109. O'bviously, tlie lamp 109v will `flash in pliase with movenients of the key 230. In actuating the talking key (not shown) at D in response to this signal, the co'ntacts 115 will be closed tofin'itially energize relay 150 which iminedi'ately looks and extinguishes the lainp 109 `as here'inbe'fore described.

It may be noted that 'the 1500 c'yole current of the 1300 and 1500 cycle iinpulses just describ'ed in connection with the Operations o`f relays 135 and145 at D ima'y also effect Van idle operation'of rela'y 10 at C. The operation of this relay will be without effect, however, as during the released period of 'relay 25, the lead- 19 'will stand` disconne'cted at thenormal contact of -relay 15,

' lead29 will standopen at the left hand normal contact of relay 20 while lead 39 will be open at the vright hand forward contact of relay and also at the normal contacts of relays 15 and 20 -while the lead to relaiy 95 will stand open Vat the normal contacts of relays 15 and 20.

In situat-ions where it may be desired that an operator at D may regularly disconnect i on 'display of the signal 109 only, an operator at E may Vproceed as already described for the flashing operation except that a single loperation only of the ring'ing `key 230 will be required. This will effect release of relay 150 to light the signal lamp 109, the steady display of which will indicate that the cord at that point may be taken down irrespect-ive of the conditions of the signal 107 thus insuring immedia-te release of the equipment involved.

In controlling` the display of the disconnect signal at the point C, reinoval of the plug 105 from jack 106 at D effects the release of relay 50, the left hand'norinal contacts of which apply ground potential by way of a resistance unit/88, l'owei'most forward contacts of relay 45 and the lamp 7 to grounded battery. i At this time,'the release of relays 15, 20 `land 25 also results from-the separatioirof the right hand 'contacts of relay 50. VIn response to :the dis- .play offsignal 7, 'the operator at C removes lplug 3 from jack 4 whereupon the apparatus at this point restores to normal.

Frointhe foregoingdescription, it will be clear that for lconnections where the cord Circuit at 'may be einployed directly vWith and lamp 107 to display a g'uai'd, ringing, and a flashi'ng or disconnect signal.

At the pointC, k'eys 91, 92 and 93 may bc Controlled by a toll switching operator' at this Apoint for respectiyely c'ollect-ing or refunding coins at a connected pay station and for ringin-g' on a line to which plug 3 may be connected. In situations vwhere positions or oflices not provided with equipment similar ,to that shown at E, may have access,v to trunk circuits of the present type terminat- `ing at the point C, requ'ests by way of an order wire circuit may be made relative to the operator at the latter point carrying out com control Operations while the toll operator may listen `on the connection for the 4x'f'eri'fying tone signals.

The present vsystem further provides that when a collect call may encounter a pay stationof the coin box type, the vtoll switching operator may depress a talking key 48 `and directly advisea distant calling operator 280 andV then oper'ate the ringing key 230.

A resulting Va] oplicat-ion of alternate currents at l700, 1100 and 1500 cycles 'from sources 233, 234 and 235 will effect the joint response of relays 1, 5 and 10 to release the associated relays 15, 20 and 25 at O. Battery may then extend from conductoi' 9, winding of relay 18, normal contacts of i'elay 15,V the ini'iermost normal contacts of' i'elays 20and 25, tlience through the normal -contacts and winding of crelay 95 to ground through normal contact on the talking key 48. On response of -relay 95, its Vforward contacts form a self-locking circuit and effects 'the illumination of call lamp 47 in series with the winding' of this relay. Depi'cssion Vof the key 48 When the toll switching operator responds to such .a signal, disconnects the ground to release the relay 95 and thereby extinguish the lamp 47. Such calls as have been referred to a-re inainly indicated ;toexpeditethe servicerelative to providing that a controlling toll operator may com-- niunicate directly' with a toll switching operator relative to matters concerning the particular (connection, or the trunk operator may 'speak directly with a station which may be joined by way of plug 3. Such Communications may, in general, refer to verification of a line relative to number, cl-assof service,l denied toll service, etc.,'or to any apparent irregularities iii 'the operation. or control of a coin'box equipment as Will be referred to more in detail later' on. In connection With or aside from coin box pay station service, an originating toll operator on a so-Called person-to-person Call Where the called party may not be at the station signaled may, on information obtained from such station, signal-in and request the toll' switching operator to change the connection of the trunk circuit to the line of another station at which the information obtained may indicate that the person wanted may be found. In situations Where it may be desired, the associated order Wire may be dispensed with, a toll operator on either a direct or a built-up connection may call and talk to the toll switching operator over the trunk Circuit in requesting that the trunk Circuit be connectedto the line of a station under call.

The lamp signals 81 and 8:2 associated with collect and refund Operations as already described, serve for indicating` the presence of and the proper deposit of coins at a connected station in situations Where the toll switchinp; operator may manipula-te the keys 91 01' 9:2 in response to a request received over an order Wire Circuit or over the trunk Circuit proper, by means of the signal and the key 48. The lamps 81 and 82 also p'ermit a toll switching operator to note any irregularities With respect to the coin control equipment When a distant operator may be directly handling a collect or a refund transaction.

As an aid to high gracie transmission on toll connections, the .talking battery current supplied to the transmitter of a connected station is of higher potential than the Current supplied for the same transmitter on a local connection. Therefore, provisionV is made against the possibility .of the slot or coin magnet 0 retaining its armature through insufiieient time having intervened between the instant the coin, control current may have been disconnected and the talking` battery reestablished due to rapid switching as may be efi'ected by the restoration of relay or relay under respective collect or refund Operations. This contingency is guarded against by theemployment of relays 80 and 85 and an interrupter 86, the operation of which Will now be described.

Assuming thatI the relay 30 corresponding with collectii is now in its operated position, coin collect current Will be routed through the Winding of relay as already describet The latter relay in addition to applying current at 400 cycles per second bacl: orer the line, also applies: ground potential through the lamp signal 81, the forward contacts of relay 18. left hand normal contact of relay 85 and thence to ,grounded battery through the left hand winding of relay 80. In addit-ion to lighting` the'lamp 81 as a collect pilot signal, current n 'this 'Circuit 'cause Ielay l-ect operation.

o to respond following` which the forward `80 and substitutes current from n'rounded battery through the left hand winding' of relay and its left hand forward contacts forth-e purpose of retaining this relay and also for continuing the energization of lamp S1. Upon disconiiection of ground at the interrupter 86,1'elay S0 is released to prepare a Circuit extending` from groundcd battery through the \'"iii(ling of relay 55, right' hand contact of relay S5, normal contacts of relay 80 and thence through the right hand Winding of relay 85 to the interrupter .88. On the next application of ground potential through the interrupter, the response of relay 55 disconnects the source of coin battery 5d from the line Circuit. The resulting release of relay 60 disconnects ground 'to extinguish lamp 81 and also to interrupt the holding Circuit through the left hand Winding of relay 85. `Therefore on the discounection of `aroundl at the interrupter S6, relays 85 and 55 will-release thercby returning` the circuits to normal condition as shown in the drawing. .Disconnection of coin battery'et by response of the 1'e'lay`55-permitted the release ofthe armature of the slot magnet 6 at station A, thereby disconnecting ground at that point. Therefore, When relay 55 restores as described, the CircuitV including` battery 5awill be opened so that relay 60 Will not reoperate.

In the event that Vtrouble may be present at the coin box, whereby coins may be Wedged or clogged or if for any other reason, the associated ground may Continue, the cycle of Operations relatiye to the response of i'elays 80, 85 and 55 as just described, will be repeated during' such period as .the relay '80 may continueenergized through the associated key 9l`or through response of relays 1, 5 and 10V to' alternating' cnrrents supplied from a distant toll operatoifis position, as

deseribed. Under refund operation, the relay 65 applies ground to light the lamp 82 and to effect the operation of relays S0 and 85 in orderfto produce a cycle of Operations similar to those ust described for a coin' col- During such cycles, the lamp S1 or the lamp 82 will be flashed While correspondingly sp'aced impulses of alternating current at l00 or 2000 cycles per second from the respective sources 63 or 67 due to resnonse'of relays G0 or (35 Will be sent back 'and manifested in the receiver of the dis- C ltant controlling toll operator.

n this inauner, rregularity-at the coin box W111 be made known to the toll switching,` operator at the same instant that it may be indicated to the distant tell operator, and ordinarily, would represent an instance where it would be ad- Visable for the toll operator to communicate with the toll switching operator as may be accomplished by means of the key 1l8 and the lamp 47 as already described.

T he purpose of the ground connection from the lowern'lost forward contacts of relays 30 and by way of the resistance Q-l is to provide for retaining' supervisory relay 80 and thereby the relay 75, during' periods in which coin operation control may be under way through either one o't' the relays 30 or 35. Vl`his insures that a premature disconnect signal will not be returned and manifested on the signal 107 at D and on the signal 227 at E.

n regard to the employment of a plurality of alterating currents and a corresponding` number of respectively tuned relays for the translation of sign-als, the requirement relative to joint response of two or more relays before a translation may be atfected, is mainly to insure that Voice currents may net become effective during` the period of conversation to establish a premature or false -signaling effect. The Various frequencies indicated have been chosen mainly vfor convenience in illustrating` and describing` the system.

The key 253 at E provides that the operator may predeterminedly affect the signal 227 during` the period of connection, that is, assuming the lamp 227 to be lighted, momentary depression of the non-looking key 253 may cause the lamp to be extinguished by thus removing battery from the armature and upper winding` of relay 260, while conrersely, assuming the lamp to be extinguished, momentary depression of the key removes battery from the armature and lower winding` of relay 260 whereupon the lamp 227 wi l be lighted. Ordinarily, the manual settingr of the signal 227 will not be required and the key 253 is provided only for rare or unusual situations where irregularity may result in the signal being positioned out of sequence, or phase relation to the signaling effects described.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. lin a telephonc system, a toll line opaque to direct current, sourees of alternating' current associated with one end of said line, a coin box associated with the other end `of said line, and means also at said other end of said line responsive to alternating eurrents from said sources for Operating said coin box. i

lin a. telephone system, a -toll line opaque to direct current and having maximum transmission efriciency within a particular band of frequencies, sources of alter- ,listing current offrquencies Within nism associated with the other end of said line, means including a plurality of relays also at the other end of said line responsire to various combinations of said alternatinp,` currents for selectively actuating said relay in Various combinations to effect the operation of said coin box mechanism in various ways, and means Vfor transmitting signals characteristic of the different Operations of said coin box mechanism to the opposite end of said line.

4-. ln a telephoi e system, a substation, a coin box mechanism thereat, an operatorls position, a link Circuit employed in establishing a connection between said substation and said position, a bridge associated with said link circuit including a plurality of selectively responsive relays, and means under the control of said relays to effect the actuation of said xnechanism in a manner correspondin` to a certain setting,` of said relays, the setting thereof being` Controlled from said position.

5. n a telephonc system, a subscriberls station, a coin box mechanism thereat, an operator`s position, a link circuit employed in establishing a connection between said station and said position, a plurality of relays in bridge of said link circuit, and means at said position for actuating said relays in Various combinations to effect the operation of said mechanism in Various ways.

(S. In a telephone system, a subscriberls station, a coin box mechanism thercat adapted to register refund and collect operations, an operatorls position, a link Circuit employed in establishing a connection between said station and said position, a group of re.- lays associated with said linl: Circuit, a plurality of current sources of different characteristics, and means at said position for applying certain of said sources to said link for actuating said group of relays ir. a certain manner to effect the refund operation of said mechanisni and. for applying certain other of said sources to said link for actuating` said group of relays in another manner to effect the collect operation of said mechanism.

7. n a telephone system, a subseriberls station, a coin box mechanism tnereat, inward and outward toll operators positions, means including a toll switching` trunk,l a toll operatofs cord and a. toll line Circuit for interconnecting` said positions and said station, .anclnieansassociated with said trunk eircuit and Controlled from each of said positions for' Operating said coin box inechanism.

S. In a telephone system, a station, a receptacle for coins thereat, a toll position, a plurality of switching points intermediate said station and said position, line circuts for joining said station and said position by Way of said swtohing points, a plurality of sourees of alternating current, means for 10 seleotively applying said sourees to said line crcuts, and means Controlled by the applied ourrents for disposing of coins which may be present in said receptaole.

In Witness whereof,' 1 hereunto Subscribe 15 my name this 27 day of April A. D. 1928.

HENRY W. UNEILL. 

